I have been a fan of Clive Owen's for a while now; he was solid in King Arthur but his performance in Closer was what really sealed the deal and made me a fan. On the flipside, I have always been somewhat lukewarm to Denzel Washington. I get it – he is one of the best black actors of this generation – a real Sidney Poitier. But for some reason I have just never seen Washington in a role that has just floored me. He was good in Remember the Titans and I thought his portrayal of Malcom X was pretty spot on, but there is just something about him that feels – well – “cookie cutter” and unnatural. So you can imagine my mixed emotions when I went to see Inside Man in theaters, a film that not only stars these two actors but was directed by Spike Lee.
In this film Washington plays the cop and Owen plays the bank robber trying to rip off New York’s biggest bank, and they go rounds to see who can outwit the other. But the plot is a little thicker than what lies on the surface. Thrown into the mix are a myriad of other characters, all with their own agendas. This is where Spike Lee inserts an awesome supporting cast. Willem Dafoe plays Washington’s police captain, Christopher Plummer plays the bank chairman whose worries are less about the money that could be lost and more about his own personal “investment” that is in the bank somewhere, and Jodie Foster pops up as the know-it-all renaissance women who is hell bent on helping said bank chairman protect the afore mentioned investment.
But while the cast alone is enough to make this film interesting, it is not what creates such an intriguing and engaging experience. Spike Lee’s direction is nothing short of spectacular, creating a film that is as visually impressive as any action flick could be. The way he positions and moves the camera through this crime scene is unlike anything I have ever seen. More importantly, it gives the audience a grand insight into the inner workings of the police operation. Whereas most bank robbery films dramatize what is happening inside the bank, Lee’s film focuses on the world of confusion outside the yellow tape. It is easy to say that the film is a visual and audible treat, with some fine camerawork and a killer soundtrack, but it is the perspective that the director gives to his audience that makes this film one of the most daring environment driven I have seen in a long time; something that shines through loud and clear on the transfer to DVD.
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Article comments
1 - mykal younge
i agree with your right-on-target comments about Inside Man, but the narrow-minded remarks about Denzel were way off track. You set yourself up by making him just a black actor. He is the best actor period out there. You can't give me a current leading man with his range and consistency forexcellence. Not DeNiro, Pacino, Crowe, Hanks, Cruise, anyone. Malcolm X is a monumental achievement. Crimson Tide, he and Gene Hackman define power acting. On and on: Glory, Training Day, Mississippi Masala, etc. Its clear that Denzel, because of the racism in Hollywood doesn't get the wild acclaim he deserves, but his cinematic resume speaks for himself. Everybodys taste is just that everybodys' taste.
2 - RichKL
Guess I missed something? Exactly why did the leader stay inside?
I'm guessing it was to avoid voice recognition, in the post siege debriefings, but it seems very little was made of that. Besides, what about the accomplice who said "Are we finished". I thought Frazier would have everyone saying that phrase, during the 'debrief.
Is there another reason?